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Saturday, June 16, 2012

Small Living Room Decorating Ideas: Focus On Function

Most people think of their homes as a way to express their personal style and taste. Homes can reflect who we are, what we appreciate and our preferences. Decorating a home can be a rewarding experience that allows home owners to enjoy their space as much as possible, either by themselves or with company. However, the architectural configurations of a house can greatly limit what a home owner may do with a particular area within the home. Often, the living room is an area that owners use for recreation, and home owners may need help with small living room decorating ideas.

In particular, apartment homes are notorious for having smaller dimensions. Older homes of certain styles may also have small rooms. When the living room area is particularly small, there are various ways by which the home owner can improve and maximize the use and look of the space, depending on the purpose intended for the area. Whether the living room area is intended as a destination to be used mostly as a personal recreational room or as a gathering space for visitors, the following small living room decorating ideas can be helpful for most situations.

Small Living Room Decorating Ideas for a Cozy Personal Retreat

For anyone looking for tips on how to make the best use of a small living room as a personal retreat, the main objective should be that of relaxation. A small living room can provide the perfect environment for a reading getaway. Alternatively, it can simply be an area to enjoy listening to music, as well as somewhere comfortable to use a laptop. With that in mind, the central aspect of the décor should be to keep things simple and clutter free. An organized area goes a long way towards providing a restful and quiet space.

While furnishings should be comfortable, a seating area for two people is usually enough, whether a futon, loveseat, or a pair of loungers. The use of curtains is recommended if the space has windows. Minimalistic drapes that allow natural light but add warmth to the room are best. A smaller coffee table, perhaps with drawers to store reading material, a stylish reading lamp, a live plant for oxygen and an area rug bring the space together while adding comfort and functionality. Finally, a narrow bookshelf may provide adequate storage as well as place to store music equipment and CDs.

Small Living Room Decorating Ideas for a Gathering Space

When the living room area will be used as the hub for gathering space, the attention needs to shift to the seating arrangements within it. Fortunately, modern designers have greatly improved sofas. Whereas multi-seating sofas used to be bulkier and took up large amounts of space, designs today offer compact alternatives that maximize usage while not sacrificing comfort. Some pieces are modular, where seat units can be added as needed, in different orientations and configurations to best match the space. Whether U-shaped or L-shaped, modern options allow effective use of space.

Another benefit of modern sofas is that they can double as sleeping areas, since many manufacturers offer sofa beds within their modular collections. A well designed conversational sofa can provide all the space needed to enjoy company. Adding a center tray table or ottoman will round up the space when entertaining. Using mirrors on walls is often recommended to visually expand the look of the space.

Small Living Room Decorating Ideas with an Entertainment Focus

A small living room area may also provide the best setting for an entertainment room. In such a case, the focal point revolves around a well organized entertainment console. Whether the area is meant for gaming or TV viewing, having a console that can store electronics and accessories properly is essential to containing clutter. Units now offer drawers and shelves specifically designed to hide cables, remote controls and all types of accessories, which can quickly turn into a tangled mess when constantly in sight.

In sum, using the above small living room decorating ideas can improve the functionality of any small living room. Decorating around the intended use allows home owners to avoid unnecessary purchases and exploit the space benefits. Rather than feeling constrained by the dimensions of an area, these tips and ideas can help to make the best use of any small living room.